1966 Dodge D/Dart ~ 'Mystery, Myth and Misconception'

Alan

I just found some information on Paula Murphy, the woman drag racer from Granada Hills, Californian.

Supposedly {March 1966} Bob Cahill of Chrysler Performance {Dodge Racing Division} was trying to get Paula to campaign a 'new' D-Dart for 1966 on the west-coast.

Paula was running a 1966 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 in C/SA at the beginning of the year, and she wanted to go with a 4-Speed. But the Oldsmobile Dealers Association in California wanted her to stay with an Automatic.
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An article with Paula Murphy >

I loved the 4-4-2, but I wanted to race a 4-Speed. The '2-Speed' Automatic in the 4-4-2 was not really fun to race. I told the
Oldsmobile guys that I wanted a 4-Speed. But the Oldsmobile Dealers Association was 100% against me driving a 4-Speed. I voiced my opinion.

In March 1966 {March 10 thru March 20} I was involved in the Mobil Gas Economy Run {Boston to New York} and I was going to switch over and drive a 1966 Buick Special {V-6} for Bill Murphy Buick here in Culver City, California.

Bob Cahill of Chrysler Performance was involved in the {Mobil} Gas Race, and heard that I was a bit unhappy with my Oldsmobile deal.

He contacted me and talked to me about getting a 1966 Dodge Dart that was to be 'race-ready' for D/Stock with a specially prepared 273 with a 4-Speed.

He said that Dodge could work out a 'Factory' contract deal with
the Dodge Dealers in California, where I would race the Dart on the West-Coast in Division 7. It was a pretty good deal, where all the expenses would be covered. And, they would have my friend {Dick Landy} set up the car.